Hack saw



Sept. 30, 1952 H. H. BOUSCHOR HACK SAW 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed March 4, 1948 IN VEN TOR. fiarye q #Bozzsaian Sept. 30, 1952 .H. H. Sousa-10R HACK SAW 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed March 4, 1948 INVENTOR.

7- Zazzscian Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED HACK SAW Harvey H. Bouschor, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 4, 1948, Serial No. 13,002

2 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to new and useful improvements in hack saws.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a hack saw in which the blade is held bowstring taut at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hack saw in which the blade is mounted in such manner as to prevent the same from twisting about its longitudinal axis during use or operation'of the saw.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hack saw in which the blade is mounted precisely on the longitudinal axis of the supporting frame whereby to provide a balanced unit and to facilitate and expedite operation of thepsaw.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hack saw having a supporting frame which is absolutely rigid so as to hold the blade posi' tioned properly at all times.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a hack-saw frame of the above-mentioned character which is adjustable to accommodate con ventional sizes of saw blades.

A stillfurther object of the invention is to provide a hack'saw having a handle which is uniquely'shaped and correlated with the frame to impose thrust against the saw blade in a proper and eflicient manner.

Other objects and advantagesiof the invention will'be apparent in thecourse of the following description. V

In the drawing forming apart of this specificae tion and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts of the same:

Fig. 1 is a side-elevational view of a hack saw embodying the invention, parts thereof being brokenaway and shown in section for clearness" of illustration;

.Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectionalview taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.1; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the rearward end of the saw blade disengaged from the frame. r

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral l0 designates a castmetalhandle, and thenumeral l2 designates a tubular metal'frame which is :carried by' the handle. Separate fastening elements [4. and :.IG are provided on the handle ID and frame l2 re.-; spectively, and these elements: are adapted for. detachable engagement with opposite ends of a saw blade l8. Means hereinafter described in def tail is provided for moving the element 14' relaie tive to the element l6 to tighten the blade 18.. c

The present invention is concerned with the particular shape of the handle .I 0, with the man-.

ner in which the frame'll is formed andassocie ated with the handle ID to provide a strongrigid structure for the saw blade H3, with the particular manner in which the elements I4 andlfi'ar'e as: sociated with the handle and frame to' prevent the saw blade from buckling or twisting in use; and in the construction of the particularmeans for fastening the saw blade to the elements; H and K7111 The handle l0 here shown by way ofillu'straF tion is generally rectangular in form, and the rearward portion 20 thereof is shapdto provide a handgrip. The portion 20 may have any suitable shape which fits the hand comfortablyp'and it will be observed that the blade-supporting el'e-T ment [4 is carried by the forward portion fl of the handle so that it'in no'way interferes" withgrasping of the handgrip or use of the saw.- Rigidity is an important consideration in so far as the handle I0 is concerned, and amt-en struction which provides this characteristic is suitable for the present invention. I have found that a one-piece, sand-cast, metalhan'dle'liav'iiigi generally the shape shown in the drawing'is preeminently satisfactory. i' i 3i The frame 12 preferably is 'made cream-drawn; welded tubing and comprises a relatively meg; essentially straight main body portion 2 4 and an' angularly disposed terminal portion 26. The body portion 24 extends through and snugly-'fits'a barrel portion '28 which is forrnedintegrally on the upper portion of the handle llli-The'termiiial portion 26 is disposed remote from the handle 0' and is arranged generally at right angles' tdthe body portion 24 and substantially in parallel-rela tion to the forward portion .22 of the handle. Also, it will be observedthat the terminal portion 26 carries the bladefa'ste'ning element 16 and the two elements I4 and I6 are arr'anged generally in alignment with'e'ach other. I J1? 2 In order to accommodate different conve tional sizes of saw blades, the main body p'ortion 24 of the frame I2 is longitudinallyadjustable" it the barrel28; and in order tohold the frame each of itsselected adjusting position's', a lo'ck ing pin 30 is inserted through transversely aligned openings 32 in the barrel 28 and transversely aligned registering openings 34 in the frame. As shown in Fig. 1 the frame I2 is provided with a plurality of equispaced, transverse holes 34, and it will be readily apparent that, if the locking pin 30 is removed, any of these openings can be selectively moved into register with the openings 32 by sliding the frame axially in the barrel- 28. Preferably, the pin3'0 is provided at one end with a knurled head '36 to facilitate manual handling thereof. The other end of pin 80 is threaded as at 38, and the opening 32 adapted to receive this end of the pin is internally threaded to engage the external threads of the pin. This arrangement holds the pint-8 securely in place and prevents it from inadvertentlyfalting out of the holes 32 and 34.

It is significant that the locking pint'o extends horizontally through the barrel 28 and frame ?24 as :this arrangement absolutely .fixes theiiframe toztheihandle lwhe'n thessaw blade-l8 isl tightene'd'and prevents the frame from rotating oroscillating in the barrel 28. When the bladelflis tightened, force is appliedwlongitudinallyralongthe .body 2 4 rearwardly .in the direction :of the handle [0,, and'this force-tends to movef the:bodyr24;axially .in the barrel 28. However, rearward. movement of the frame is ,1 prevented by thelo'ckingipin -30. Asa consequence, the-openings 134 .seat solidly :against the pin '36. In':efiect, the openings :34 Lfu'nctionain the :same manner-:as :V blocks: to zposition the'frame l2 angularl'y 'in thebarrelzand thereafter to prevent webbling orcoscillation .o'f-the frame-in the barrel-.28.

- Fonease -in-adjustment, the-holes: are made large enoughto permit ready insertion-or re+ moval of the pin 30. Thus some clearance is provided behind the. locking -pin 3 ll when the blade 184s tightened, and :this clearance is shown to aniexaggerated extentinwFig 1 :of-the drawing. In o. deviceof this nature it is-exceeding1y important'to maintaina frame1rigid-a1; all times and tofl prevent it from wobbling even'slightly in the-handle 10. At the same time, it is desire able'to make the-frame:easily'adjustable to accommodate different sizes'ofsawblades. Ifthe frame flexes 1even slightly in .useor :if i it moves independently in :anydirection relative tothe handle 10, the saw-blade l will-twist or :warp in ,If this occurs, the bladewill not out properly and will be easily broken. However, if both the frame and the handle 'are "absolutely rigid and the frame is associated'with-the handle in such'manner that the twoelementstcanhot move independentlyof each other, the difiiculties referred to -above; areobviated. 1 The blade fasteningelement It isz'generally in the form ofan elongated pin .havinganintegral; substantially square portion '40 5 intermediate its ends. The rearward portion 42 of the 'pin'extends through a hole 44 .provided in .the forward portion-.22 of the:handle=|0,-and a wing nut 46 is screwed on the projecting terminal portion thereof. -Preferably, a washer 48 isiprovided be-. tween the handle portion 22+andthe wing nut 46. -A slot ora wayifl is provided in'the leading edge .ofthe handleportion -22,.-and the opposite sides of the slot snugly embrace thesquare portion. It is important that the hole 44 be exactly centered between the opposite sides of the slot '50 and that :thementioned sides of the slot flatlyrengage opposite sides of the "square iport1on-40. From-apractical standpointzth'e slotlcan limits defined by the slot 50 merely by tightening or loosening the wing nut 46.

As long as the square portion 40 is disposed within the slot 50,

the velementl ltis prevented from turning. Since the element l4 is held positively against angular movement relative to handle I, it will hold the rearward'end of the blade I8 angularly or rotatably fixed.

.In addition to theabove, the closefit between the square portion 40. and the slot 5E3 Zholds-"the element I4 exactly parallel at all times to the main body 24 of the frame 12. This relationship should exist for maximum efficiency in operation. Also, this arrangement permits the element-I4 to be positioned in. any one of .four right-angular related positions on the handle, depending upon the position of thesquare portion- 4%] .in the slot 50. By reason of the square shape of theportion 40, the element isheld solidly in each of'its four positions. I

It is significant that the element 4111s .ip'ositioned substantially above the bottom of "the handle l0. Byreason of this relationship,one or possiblytwofingers of .the hand are disposed below the element It when'ithe handle Ill is gripped naturally .in the hand. Consequently, in operation, force is transmitted substantially directly from the forearm .of the user to the blade I8. Thisrelationship makes the sawkmiich easier to use and there is less-likelihood .o'f the' blade [8 being broken. Y

The front element 16 alsoisfgenerally' inthe form of an elongated, cylindrical. pin having an essentially square head 52 at one end thereof. As clearly shown in the drawing, the cylindrical body portion of the element I6 extends diametricallythrough holes .54provided in theterrnina'l portion'ZB with the head 52 atthe'ou'te'r side-oi the frame. In order to prevent the element "[6 from'rotating in the holes .54., a flat S'G'isfhiille'd in the frame exactly centrally"with'respecflto the outer opening 54. This flat 5.6formsa seat for the head 52, and the"two'shoulders"58 formed at opposite sides "of the fiat embraceand's'nugly fit opposite sides ofthehead. 'Inpractice, Ihold the dimensionbetween shoulders 58 to within .001 inch larger than the width of 1.head"5'2. 'If this tolerance is maintainedpitlie head 52 will slip easily between the shouldersi58, and at the same time the .element I16 is absolutely .prevented from turning .or wobbling in theframe. In connection withthe above, howevergit will -bereadily apparent that the element 16 canbe positioned in any one of four right-'angularly-related positions in the same manner .as the. element 1 4 and that it will -.be held fixedlyagainst-rotation in each of these-positions by the shoulders -58. .Both of the elements and 16 are formed at the inner ends thereof with flat-longitudinal surfaces which support and fiatly engag-e "the terminal portions of saw :blade It. The flat sur-J face of element M is designated by the-numeral 6D, and the flat surface of element 'desig-.

nated. bythe. numeral 62. Preferably, surfaces 80 and 62 are oifsetbeyond the axes of-the elements [4 and I6 a distance equal to one half the thickness of saw blade 18 sothat the center line of the blade coincides exactly with the center lines ofthe supporting elements. In this connection, it should be noted that the hole 44 which receives the element I4 and the openings 54 which receive the element I6 are exactly centred in the handle and frame respectively so that the center line of the. saw blade l8 also coincides with the center of the frame I2. This arrangement provides a balanced condition and eliminates any tendency for the saw to wobble or to assume an incline position during a sawing oporation.

Pins 64 and 66 are embedded in the elements 14 and IE to, project rearwardly at an angle from the surfaces 60 and 62 respectively. Preferably the pins 64 and 66 are disposed exactly midway between opposite longitudinal edges of the surfaces 60 and 62, and they preferably extend rearwardly at an angle of about 15 with respect to vperpendiculars to the surfaces. As clearly shown in the drawing, the pins 64 and 66 extend through the terminal openings with which hack-saw blade i8 is conventionally provided. The inclined position of. the pins prevents the blade l8 from inadvertently disengaging the mounting elements I4 and 16 when tension is imposed on the blade or as the result of lateral thrust imposed on the blade in use. In addition, the pin 66 preferably projects sufliciently from surface 62 as to prevent the fastening element Hi from falling out of the frame when the saw blade I 8 is removed (Fig. 6). Thus, there are no parts that can become separated from the saw and lost or misplaced through inadvertence.

The manner in which the pins 64 and 66 are associated with the mounting elements l4 and I6 is a feature of this invention. Heretofore the holes which receive the mounting pins have been drilled at right angles to the surfaces which support the saw blade. The pins are press-fitted into the holes or sockets-thus formed and are then bent rearwardly to the desired angle. This practice has been generally unsatisfactory since the bending operation elongates the adjacent outer portion of the socket, and the pins eventually work loose. This-condition has been a constant source of trouble where this construction is employed.

I have overcome the condition referred to abov by drilling holes 68 and at the desired angle in the mounting elements I4 and I6 and then press-fitting the pins 64 and 66 therein. When this arrangement is used, the projecting portions of the pins are disposed at the proper angle and the bending operation heretofore used is eliminated. As a result, the entire bedded portions of the pins are solidly and uniformly gripped by the walls of their respective holes or sockets and the trouble heretofore occasioned by loosening of the pins is entirely eliminated.

It is a further feature of the invention that the terminal portion 26 of the frame I2 normally is disposed at an angle greater than 90 with respect to the main body portion 24. In practice, I have found that the terminal portion 26 should be bent through an angle of about 86 so that it lacks about 4 of being exactly at right angles with respect to the main body 24 of the frame l2. As hereinabove set forth, the mounting element I6 is exactly at right angles with respect to the terminal portion 26. Thus while the two mounting elements are generally in alignment, the element I4 is normally disposed exactly parallel to the main body of the frame whereas the mounting element It normally is disposed at an angle thereto as best shown in Fig. 7. When the blade I8 is fastened to both of the pins 64 and 65 and the wing nut 46 is tightened, the blade is tensioned and the terminal portion 26 is flexed to a position substantially at right angles to the main body of the frame as shown in Fig. 1. It is important that the frame I2 has sufficient elasticity so that it will not be stretched beyond its elastic limit. Some flexingof the frame is bound to occur in any event, however, and it is imperative from a functional standpoint that the included angle between the body portion 24 and the terminal portion 26 be'not less than when maximum tension is imposedzon the blade [8. g

In this connection, I have found that the blade l8 must be held bowstring taut in use in order to prevent it from dulling quickly and breaking. ,If the blade is not held sufficiently taut, there is a tendency for a ripple to form therein immediately adjacent to the work which distorts the position of the teeth. If this occurs, the teeth quickly become dull and the blade breaks very easily. On the other hand, if the frame is constructed in such manner that the terminal portion thereof which supports the distal or forward end of the blade is flexed to a position less than 90 with respect to the main body of the frame when the blade is bowed taut, maximum efficiency in oper-. ation is not achieved. Tests have demonstrated theimportance of constructing the frame so thatv the terminal portion is flexed to a position substantially at right angles to the main body of the frame when the blade is under maximum tension.

It may thus be seen that I have achieved the.

objectsof my invention. I have provideda hack saw in which the frame is adjustable relative to the handle in order to accommodate various sizes of hack-saw blades, and the frame is associated with the handle in such manner that anabsolutely rigid structure is produced when the blade is pulled taut in the frame. Also, I mount the blade in such manner that it is held absolutely rigid and prevented'from twisting or oscillating in use. The wing nut 46 which is used to tauten or loosen the saw blade can be easily manipulated by grasping it between the thumb and fingers with the bottom of the handle against the palm of the hand. Also, the elements which mount the blade are angularly adjustable to four rightangularly-related positions and they are held equally firmly in all adjusted positions. I have found that the various features which embody the improved construction provide for maximum efflciency in use. Also, when the blade I8 is mounted and held in the manner hereinabove described, it remains sharp for a longer period of time and its life is increased severalfold.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention I claim:

1. A hack saw having elongated, longitudinally spaced blade-supporting elements, a rigid handle member carrying one of said blade-supporting elements, a frame member having a main body portion carried by said handle and an inherently dealt-1e terminm "portion icarrying 'the o'ther trof said biaee-supporting elements, the inner Itermin'ar "portions.;oi' said elements having fiat, aligned surfacesadapted to seat against one side of a saw blade, pinsiprojec'itir-ig from saicl s'u'rfaces-"adapted to extend through the conventional mounting: holes of the'bla'de, said one'blade-su'pporting element having an i'nteg'ral square portion and said handle being provided with'an external milled slot forming a 'guidewa'y wh'i'ch snugly but: 'slidablyarecei'ves"said square portion, said o'therselement having a 'substantially-square head attthe outer end thereof and the terminal portion f said 'frame being provided with an external milled "slot extending entirely -therethrough frZnn :one side to the other 'there'ofisaid slot defining a guide'way ivhich' 'seatsand snugly reeeives sa'idhead, the 'bl'ad'e supporting element carried by said handle being normally di'spo'sed parallertd the position of said saw blade on the sawia'nd the element carried by s'aid frame being normally inclined clow nwardly away from the ba'ck of 'the saw and toward the handle thereof, and ad;i1istable rneans for moving said "bladesupporting 1 elements longitudinally relative to each other, said blade supporting elementsand said frame being so constructed "and arranged that the bl'ade 'su'pporting' elements are brought substantially into alignment by flexure of the resilientiternfinal" portion' of said frame when the' adjustable means is actuated to tauten' a blade attachedfto- 'suchblade-supporting elements,fiand sai'd'ofiexible"terminal portion being capable oi' fiexing an'iamount necessary to bring said bladesupporting 'elem'e'nts substantially in'to alignment without-exceeding itsela'stic limit.

:2. 'FA hack "saw having elongated; longitudinally spaced blade-supporting elements, a rigid handle member carrying one of said blade-supporting elements, a frame member having a main body portionv carried by said handle and an inherently fiexible' ternnnal portion carrying the other of said bla'cleesupporting elements, the inner terminal portionsofsaid elements having flatpaligne'd surfaces-adapted to seat against'one side oia saw blade, 'pinsprojecting from said surfaces adapted "to extend through the conventional mounting holesof the blade, said "one "bladesupporting element having "an integral square ;3 portion and 's'aid handie 'liemg provided recess receiving saidnsquare rportion; said: recess having flat wall's'i enga'gin'gr oppositecsldes ofzsaid square po'rtion' toihold thezlatter against'frotation,

said other 1 element 'also :having "a substantially 's'qu'are portion and tlie ter'minaI portion:of: said fram'e bein'g provided with areee'ssireceivingt-the s'q'u'are i portion of said element, said iastementlonedrecess-" having fi'a;t walls engag-ing iopp'o'site sides of said-square portionfisoIiastomhold said other lenient against rotation; thei blades-support "'g element carried by s'aid handle :bein'g mormany "disposed parallel :"to the position :bf isaid saw blade on ithe-"saw; :ana the element :oarrieri b'y said frame being 'normally iinclined:.;.down wardly away from the back of the saw and-toward the "handle 'thereof, and adjustable means l for moving ifsa'id' 'bla'de supporting 'el'em'ents longitudinally' relativ'e"to each other; said b1ade support'- in; -elementsand saidvframe bei'ngiso constructed and arrangedthat the blade-supp'ortin'g elements are bro'ught'substantiallyi into alignment bydlexfire of the resilient terminal' portion 'of said frame Whenthe' 'a'dj-ustable mean's is actuated: to. tauten a blade attached to su'ch bladeesupporting-felements, and said. fiexib'le 1 terminal portion being capable of flexing an "amount "necessary I to'bring said blade-supporting'aelement'zsubstantially into alignment without exceeding .its' elastic limit.

I-IARVEY Hp LBO.USHOR.

"REFERENCES CITED The following references are of reco'rdfiih the file of this patent: 

